Rise in Delphi Studies Benefits Arthroscopists, Patients, and Arthroscopy Readers With Current Expert Consensus.

Abstract

Delphi Expert Consensus studies are increasingly common in orthopaedic literature and provide clinical guidance on many new and controversial topics. Although meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials remain the gold standard of evidence, they are not always feasible, not always definitive, and not always needed. Delphi Consensus Statements currently play a unique role in our research armamentarium to add insight to the many unanswered questions in arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine that other higher levels of evidence studies have not yet fully answered. Arthroscopy has been intentional in the past decade with our published Delphi articles that have offered compelling guidance in the diagnosis, imaging, and management of multiple pathologies in the knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow and in many sports medicine topics.